'The Aviator' Receives 11 Oscar Nominations - NYTimes.com 'The Aviator' Receives 11 Oscar Nominations By SHARON WAXMAN Published: January 26, 2005 ''The Aviator,'' Martin Scorsese's sweeping tale of the genius and phobias of Howard Hughes, took a lead in the Oscar race with 11 nominations, including nods for best picture, best director and best actor. ''Finding Neverland,'' about the man who wrote ''The Adventures of Peter Pan,'' and ''Million Dollar Baby,'' an underdog boxing tale, received seven nominations each, including best picture. In a year that started with few clear front-runners and many small films vying for honors, voters in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences turned back to what they have traditionally embraced -- movies with inspiring themes and heartfelt stories. ''Ray,'' about the singer Ray Charles, and ''Sideways,'' about a middle-aged man's life crisis played out in the California wine country, were also nominated for best picture.

Controversial films like ''The Passion of the Christ,'' directed by Mel Gibson, which had three nominations but none in the major categories, and Michael Moore's political documentary ''Fahrenheit 9/11,'' which received no nominations, were largely ignored. ''The Aviator,'' which won nominations for Mr. Scorsese and the actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Alan Alda, as well as the screenwriter John Logan, was the most ambitious film among the nominees: a three-hour tale of Howard Hughes's personal demons that also reflected Hollywood in the 1940's and the history of commercial aviation. ''It wasn't an odds-on favorite to even get made,'' said the film's producer, Michael Mann, noting that at one point eight films about Hughes were being planned. ''We decided on the right story to tell, specifically to try to externalize the internal Howard Hughes. To take his struggles against mental disease on the one hand and his being swept away by his visionary aspect on the other -- to tell the promise of the man.'' Mr. DiCaprio said: ''This is one of those films that deserves to be recognized.

It's not the kind of film we get to see every week, or every month or year. It's an epic character study. It's encouraging to me that more people may finance fascinating character studies on this budget scale.'' The nominations for ''The Aviator'' and ''Finding Neverland'' -- plus a best foreign film nomination for ''The Chorus'' -- represented a bittersweet victory for Miramax, the New York-based art house studio whose corporate parent, the Walt Disney Company, is poised to sever ties with Miramax's co-founders, Harvey and Bob Weinstein. Miramax was a co-distributor of ''The Aviator,'' which had a budget of $112 million and received backing from both Warner Brothers and Initial Entertainment Group. ''As I said to Harvey a few week ago, 'If this is the last supper, let's eat,''' said Richard Gladstein, a producer of ''Finding Neverland.'' ''And he'll have an Act 2. No one's had an Act 1 like this.'' Through a spokesman, Mr.

Weinstein said, ''We congratulate our nominees and are thankful that the focus is finally where it should be -- on the movies.'' ''Sideways,'' a droll comedy directed by Alexander Payne, garnered nominations for best picture and best director, as well as supporting acting nods for Virginia Madsen and Thomas Haden Church, and a nomination for its screenplay, written by Mr. Payne and Jim Taylor. A darling of the critics, it had been expected by many to dominate the awards but failed to win a nomination for its lead actor, Paul Giamatti. Jamie Foxx, who portrayed Ray Charles in ''Ray,'' was nominated for best actor, as was Don Cheadle, who played a real-life hero who saved Tutsis during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda in ''Hotel Rwanda.'' Mr. Foxx was also nominated for his supporting role in ''Collateral.'' Other nominees in the best actor category were Johnny Depp, as the playwright J.M. Barrie in ''Finding Neverland,'' and Clint Eastwood for his performance in ''Million Dollar Baby,'' which he also directed.

Imelda Staunton was nominated for best actress for her role in ''Vera Drake,'' one of the least-seen films in the race, as a British woman who defies the law and social convention in the 1950's by performing abortions. The other nominees in the category were Annette Bening for ''Being Julia,'' Catalina Sandino Moreno for ''Maria Full of Grace,'' Kate Winslet for ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' and Hilary Swank -- a previous Oscar winner -- for ''Million Dollar Baby.'' Ms. Winslet was nominated for portraying a kooky American who is erased from her boyfriend's memory. ''She was such a difficult part to play,'' said Ms. Winslet, who is British. ''I had to find the right balance of madness and subtlety, which is very, very hard to do, and an American accent, completely changing myself in order to be Clementine.'' Morgan Freeman, who was nominated for best supporting actor for playing a wise ex-boxer in ''Million Dollar Baby,'' Mr. Eastwood's boxing drama, said that it was a last-minute addition to the 2004 release schedule and that Warner Brothers had initially declined to finance it.

''It was the subject matter, I would think that was the main reason,'' he said, referring to a surprising plot twist with political undertones that has not generally been discussed in the media so as not to spoil the ending. The film was ultimately co-financed by the production company Lakeshore Entertainment and Warner. Taylor Hackford, the director of ''Ray,'' observed that having two African-Americans, Mr. Foxx and Mr. Cheadle, nominated for best actor, along with supporting nominations for Mr. Foxx, Mr. Freeman and the black British actress Sophie Okonedo, might be a sign that racial stigma is becoming a thing of the past in Hollywood. ''It's an important time; people don't talk about 'African-American,''' he said. ''We shouldn't look at it that way; when there are great performances on film, they should be recognized.'' This year's directing nominations represented something of a triumph for Hollywood's old school. Four of the nominees are at least 60: Mr. Hackford, nominated for ''Ray''; Mike Leigh, nominated for ''Vera Drake''; Mr. Scorsese; and Mr. Eastwood, the oldest of the group at 74.

Among the film industry's newer directors, only Mr. Payne, 43, was nominated. Morgan Spurlock's ''Super Size Me,'' a chronicle of the filmmaker's fate when he went on an all-McDonald's diet, was among the nominees in the documentary category. (Mr. Moore asked that ''Fahrenheit 9/11'' not be considered in that category.) A year ago Mr. Spurlock brought ''Super Size Me'' to the Sundance Film Festival. ''We made this little film for $65,000; now it's played in 60 countries,'' he said. ''I don't have one debt in my life now, and that's a beautiful thing.'' He added that he was making an ''educationally enhanced'' version of the film to play in schools in the spring. A documentary in competition at this year's Sundance festival, ''Twist of Faith,'' about a Toledo firefighter's childhood experience of abuse at the hand of a Roman Catholic priest, was also nominated. The film was directed by Kirby Dick. The 77th Oscar ceremony will take place at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Feb. 27.

Photos: Martin Scorsese, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio on the set of ''The Aviator.'' (Photo by Miramax Films); Paul Giamatti in ''Sideways,'' a nominee for best picture. (Photo by Merie W. Wallace/Fox Searchlight Pictures)(pg. E7) CNN.com - 'Aviator' leads Oscar nominations - Jan 25, 2005 'Aviator' leads Oscar nominations Film about Howard Hughes earns 11 nods By Todd Leopold CNN "The Aviator" picked up 11 nominations, including nods for best picture, director Martin Scorsese, left, and star Leonardo DiCaprio. VIDEO What's your early pick for best picture Oscar? "The Aviator" Manage alerts | What is this? (CNN) -- Oscar gave wings to "The Aviator" on Tuesday, with the film earning 11 nominations -- including best picture -- to lead the pack for the 77th annual Academy Awards. The Howard Hughes biography also picked up nods for best actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), best director (Martin Scorsese), best supporting actor (Alan Alda) and best supporting actress (Cate Blanchett).

"Million Dollar Baby," the story of a female boxer, and "Finding Neverland," a biography of "Peter Pan" writer J.M. Barrie, followed with seven nominations each, including best picture for both films. Jamie Foxx earned two acting nominations: best actor for "Ray" and best supporting actor for "Collateral." But Oscar also lived up to its reputation as an unpredictable idol. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave unexpected nominations to "Vera Drake." Though the film earned a widely predicted best actress nomination for Imelda Staunton, it also picked up nods for director Mike Leigh and its original screenplay, credited to Leigh. But the Academy snubbed "Sideways" actor Paul Giamatti, who had won several critics' awards and was thought to be in the running for best actor. Mel Gibson's controversial box-office hit "The Passion of the Christ" missed out on a best picture pick, but it earned three nominations: for cinematography, makeup and original score. However, Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- ineligible for a best documentary nomination because the film was not submitted for that category -- was shut out across the board.

The other two nominees for best picture are "Ray" and "Sideways." The nominations are "a very interesting horse race. It is an open field," Frank Pierson, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president, told reporters, according to Reuters. Acting races With Annette Bening and Hilary Swank up for best actress, that race -- as was widely predicted -- will be a rematch of 1999's contest. Swank beat out Bening ("American Beauty") that year in "Boys Don't Cry." This time around, Bening has been nominated for "Being Julia," playing an actress in 1930s England who has an affair with a younger man. Swank is up for "Million Dollar Baby" as a boxer who pursues a dream of becoming a champion. In addition to Bening, Swank and Staunton, the other nominees for best actress are Catalina Sandino Moreno ("Maria Full of Grace") and Kate Winslet ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"). The front-runner in the best actor category is believed to be Foxx, who won a Golden Globe and critical huzzahs for his performance as musician Ray Charles.

Foxx wore prosthetics over his eyes during filming and improved his already proficient piano playing to play the legendary soul singer, who died in 2004. Including Foxx, four of the five best actor nominees played real people in what has been called the "year of the biopic." The other nominees are DiCaprio, who plays Hughes in "The Aviator"; Don Cheadle, who portrays hotelier Paul Rusesabagina in "Hotel Rwanda"; and Johnny Depp, who plays Barrie in "Finding Neverland." The only nominated actor playing a fictional character is Clint Eastwood, who portrays a grizzled but softhearted gym owner and boxing trainer in "Million Dollar Baby." DiCaprio was pleased with his nomination, and alluded to "The Aviator's" long gestation period. "Fortune favors the prepared," he told Reuters. In the best supporting actor category, Foxx and Alda are joined by Thomas Haden Church ("Sideways"), Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") and Clive Owen ("Closer").

Besides Blanchett, who plays Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator," the other nominees for best supporting actress are Laura Linney ("Kinsey"), Virginia Madsen ("Sideways"), Sophie Okonedo ("Hotel Rwanda") and Natalie Portman ("Closer"). Fifth time the charm for Scorsese? With "The Aviator," Martin Scorsese, who's never won an Oscar, has earned his fifth nomination for best director. He's up against "Million Dollar Baby's" Eastwood, a previous winner for 1992's "Unforgiven"; Taylor Hackford ("Ray"); Alexander Payne ("Sideways"); and Mike Leigh ("Vera Drake"). Oscar winner Adrien Brody, left, and Academy President (and Oscar-winning screenwriter) Frank Pierson announce the nominations. Nominees for best original screenplay are John Logan ("The Aviator"); Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"); Keir Pearson and Terry George ("Hotel Rwanda"); Brad Bird ("The Incredibles"); and Mike Leigh ("Vera Drake").

The nomination for Leigh was particularly striking, since the director is known for using a bare-bones screenplay outline and then letting his actors rehearse and improvise for weeks before filming begins. The nominees for best animated film feature are "The Incredibles," "Shark Tale" and "Shrek 2." Brad Bird, who both wrote and directed "The Incredibles," thanked the Academy for recognizing the film in four categories. "It is such an honor for 'The Incredibles' to receive four Oscar nominations," Bird said in a statement. "The screenplay nomination is particularly gratifying since storytelling is at the heart of what makes Pixar so special and what makes cinema such an amazing art form." Best adapted screenplay nominees are Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke ("Before Sunset"); David Magee ("Finding Neverland"); Paul Haggis ("Million Dollar Baby"); Jose Rivera ("The Motorcycle Diaries"); and Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor ("Sideways"). Best foreign-language film nods went to "As It Is in Heaven" (Sweden), "The Chorus" (France), "Downfall" (Germany), "The Sea Inside" (Spain) and "Yesterday" (South Africa).

Though "Fahrenheit" was shut out, another big documentary hit -- Morgan Spurlock's tale of a monthlong McDonald's diet and its results, "Super Size Me" -- earned a nomination, as did "Born Into Brothels," "The Story of a Weeping Camel," "Tupac: Resurrection" and "Twist of Faith." Composer and conductor John Williams received his 43rd nomination, this one for best score for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." The honor ties Williams with Alfred Newman for most score nominations. Among Williams' competitors: Newman's son, Thomas, who composed the score for "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events." (Thomas Newman is from the same extended Newman clan that has produced film composers Lionel, Emil, David, Maria and Randy.) The 77th annual Academy Awards are scheduled for February 27. The show will air on ABC.

Story Tools ‘The Aviator’ leads field with 11 Oscar nods - TODAY.com Today.com ‘The Aviator’ leads field with 11 Oscar nods 2005-01-25T13:50:11.000Z comment () The Howard Hughes epic “The Aviator” led Academy Awards contenders with 11 nominations Tuesday, including best picture, plus acting honors for Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Alan Alda and a directing slot for Martin Scorsese. The boxing saga “Million Dollar Baby” and the J.M. Barrie tale “Finding Neverland” followed with seven nominations each, among them best picture and acting nominations for Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Hilary Swank and Johnny Depp.

Eastwood also got a directing nomination for “Million Dollar Baby.” The other best-picture nominees were the Ray Charles portrait “Ray” and the buddy comedy “Sideways.” Along with Eastwood, Jamie Foxx also scored two nominations — as best actor for the title role in “Ray” and supporting actor as a taxi driver whose cab is hijacked by a hit man in “Collateral.” Foxx’s dead-on emulation of Charles has made him the front-runner in the lead-actor category. Starring as aviation trailblazer and Hollywood rebel Hughes, DiCaprio also was nominated for best actor. He and Foxx will compete against Depp as “Peter Pan” playwright Barrie in “Finding Neverland”; Eastwood as a cantankerous boxing trainer in “Million Dollar Baby”; and Don Cheadle for “Hotel Rwanda,” starring as hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, who sheltered refugees from the Rwandan genocide.

Best actress rematchThe best-actress category presents a rematch of the 1999 showdown, when underdog Swank won the Oscar for “Boys Don’t Cry” over Annette Bening, who had been the front-runner for “American Beauty.” This time, Swank was nominated as a bullheaded boxing champ whose life takes a cruel twist in “Million Dollar Baby.” Bening was chosen for “Being Julia,” in which she plays an aging 1930s stage diva exacting wickedly comic revenge on the men in her life and a young rival. Both actresses won Golden Globes for the roles, Swank for best dramatic actress, Bening for actress in a musical or comedy. “I knew when I read the script that it was special.

It was a rare find,” said Swank, whose career had languished somewhat since her Oscar win for “Boys Don’t Cry.” “It was the best experience I’ve had in my career to date.” Also nominated for the best-actress Oscar: Catalina Sandino Moreno as a Colombian woman imperiled when she signs on to smuggle heroin in “Maria Full of Grace”; Imelda Staunton as a saintly housekeeper in 1950s Britain who performs illegal abortions on the side in “Vera Drake”; and Kate Winslet as a woman who has had memories of her ex-boyfriend erased in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Scorsese's year?Joining Eastwood and Scorsese among directing nominees were Taylor Hackford for “Ray”; Mike Leigh for “Vera Drake”; and Alexander Payne for “Sideways.” Scorsese, arguably the most prominent modern filmmaker who has never won an Oscar, also has never delivered a best-picture winner. Considered a nominal best-picture favorite, “The Aviator” offers him a shot to finally triumph on Oscar night, though Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” is a formidable competitor.

“Bringing ‘The Aviator’ to the screen took years of effort by an extraordinary group of individuals, and I am thrilled that so many of the people who poured their heart into the film have been recognized by the academy,” Scorsese said. “The Aviator” won the Golden Globe for best-dramatic film, but Eastwood beat out Scorsese for the directing prize at the Globes.

Eastwood is a past Oscar winner for best picture and director with 1992’s “Unforgiven.” Along with Foxx in “Collateral,” Alda was nominated for supporting actor as a senator tussling with Hughes in “The Aviator” while Freeman was picked as a worldly-wise ex-boxer in “Million Dollar Baby.” The other nominees: Thomas Haden Church as a bridegroom out for a final fling in “Sideways” and Clive Owen as a coarse lover in the sex drama “Closer.” For supporting actress, academy voters picked Blanchett, who plays Katharine Hepburn in “The Aviator”; Laura Linney as the title character’s sexually adventurous wife in “Kinsey”; Virginia Madsen as a deceived lover in “Sideways”; Sophie Okonedo as innkeeper Rusesabagina’s wife in “Hotel Rwanda”; and Natalie Portman as a gutsy stripper in “Closer.” “This is, like, crazy. My mom called and said, ‘I’m so proud of you.

I can’t believe it,”’ said Portman, who won the supporting-actress Golden Globe for “Closer.” “I ask, how did I get so lucky to have an amazing experience — have a film I’m really proud of — and then also get recognized by our own community?” It was the best year ever for black performers, who had five of the 20 acting nominations. The most previously was three, including the 2001 Oscars when Halle Berry and Denzel Washington both won the lead acting prizes. The overlooked “Sideways” star Paul Giamatti was overlooked for a nomination, a surprise given that he had been a contender for most previous film honors. “Knowing Paul, he’s probably relieved,” said co-star Madsen, who earned her first Oscar nomination. “He really doesn’t care about any of this. He’s a working actor. He just wants to go home after work to his wife and son.” Liam Neeson, who had the title role in “Kinsey,” also missed out, as did the movie, which had been considered a best-picture contender.

Mel Gibson’s religious blockbuster “The Passion of the Christ” missed out on main categories, but did pick up nominations for cinematography, makeup and original score. Michael Moore’s gamble to hold his hit film “Fahrenheit 9/11” out of the documentary category — to boost its best-picture prospects — backfired. The movie was shut out across the board. Moore won the documentary prize two years ago for “Bowling for Columbine.” Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me,” which hilariously chronicles his monthlong feeding frenzy on an all-McDonald’s diet, was among the documentary nominees. Also nominated: “Born into Brothels,” “The Story of the Weeping Camel,” “Tupac: Resurrection,” and “Twist of Faith.” No predictable sweep this yearWith its epic scope and dazzling re-creation of early Hollywood, Scorsese’s “The Aviator” could claim the inside track as front-runner for best picture. The film won the Golden Globe for best dramatic picture.

Yet unlike last year, when “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” went in as the odds-on favorite and swept all 11 of its categories come Oscar night, the outcome is more uncertain this time. The fairy-tale comedy “Shrek 2” and the superhero adventure “The Incredibles” will duke it out for the animated feature film Oscar, along with the undersea romp “Shark Tale.” Nominated for foreign-language film were Sweden’s “As It Is in Heaven,” France’s “The Chorus,” Germany’s “Downfall,” Spain’s “The Sea Inside” and South Africa’s “Yesterday.” Nominees in most categories are chosen by specific branches of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, such as directors, actors and writers. The full academy membership of about 5,800 is eligible to vote in all categories for the Oscars themselves. ABC will broadcast the Oscars live Feb. 27 from Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre. Chris Rock is the show’s host, the first time since 1996 that either Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg or Steve Martin has not been master of ceremonies.

The Aviator - WarnerBros.com - Movies The Aviator Original Theatrical Date: December 25, 2004 OSCAR WINNER: Best Supporting Actress - Cate Blanchett Best Cinematography Best Editing Best Costume Design Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including "Best Picture," director Martin Scorcese's epic bio-pic depicts the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career, from the late 1920's to the mid-1940's. After inheriting his father's machine tool company, the young Howard Hughes discovers he can combine his passions—flying, moviemaking and women—by coming to Hollywood. In 1930, while building one of the world's largest aviation companies, Hughes produces Hell's Angels, a perfectionist's homage to World War I flyers. The man who eventually produces almost 30 films shocks society with The Outlaw, starring buxom Jane Russell, builds the world's largest airplane, sets the world speed record and invents the half-cup bra.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the title role, leads an amazing all-star cast, including Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (as Katharine Hepburn), Alan Alda (in his own Oscar nominated performance) Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, and other top-flight talent. Genre: Oscar WinnersDrama ‎The Aviator (2004) directed by Martin Scorsese • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd 2 The way of the future. The Aviator really excells at capturing the time period and events happening in the life of one of the most interesting people who ever lived, and it also is impeccable at showing his mental downslide and decay as he slowly but surely goes crazy. However, it can't really do both, if that makes sense. Whenever it does either of the two on its own, it works so well, but it whenever it tries to be both, it doesn't live up to either of its two aspects. Basically, the sum doesn't equal the parts. I'm trying to explain myself as best as possible, but I'm not sure if I'm wording it right.

Besides that though, everything else is super solid. Also, why the fuck did Leo win an Oscar for The Revenant and not this? Probably the best performance he's given. 10 I know I'm in the minority with my opinion that The Aviator is Martin Scorsese's absolute best movie in over twenty years, probably since Goodfellas. It's a jaw-dropping marvel to witness in all aspects of filmmaking. There isn't a single performance that misses the mark (unless you really want to count Gwen Stefani), the score by Howard Shore is one of his absolute best, the visual effects are tasteful, the cinematography is gorgeous and graceful, and the subject Howard Hughes is in many ways as obsessive and tireless as Scorsese himself. He was simply born to make a Hughes biopic, and he hits a grand slam in every possible way with this one. It will always land among my favorites from the legend. Oh, and it contains the best work from DiCaprio, too, in my opinion.

1 Maybe Scorsese's best film - almost Greek mythology with Wagnerian scope, one of the best films on the correlation between ambition and madness, Icarus flying too high into the sky and crashing - many times we see the sun obliterate the rest of Scorsese's frame in the flying sequences. Also Scorsese's mastery of music is at its best here - I'm thinking precisely of the arrangements of the Howard Shore's score for the flying sequences, the ominous drones portend doom early on, from the first time we see Hughes make a plane innovation. Real life: living in the moment, making movies, being in love, and losing ones mind. Of course Hughes' dream plane is called the Hercules.. Streaming, Netflix (Santa Cruz, CA) Poor old Howard Hughes and all of his blues. 2 The way of the future. The Aviator really excells at capturing the time period and events happening in the life of one of the most interesting people who ever lived, and it also is impeccable at showing his mental downslide and decay as he slowly but surely goes crazy. However, it can't really do both, if that makes sense.

Whenever it does either of the two on its own, it works so well, but it whenever it tries to be both, it doesn't live up to either of its two aspects. Basically, the sum doesn't equal the parts. I'm trying to explain myself as best as possible, but I'm not sure if I'm wording it right. Besides that though, everything else is super solid. Also, why the fuck did Leo win an Oscar for The Revenant and not this? Probably the best performance he's given. The Aviator (2004) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes ' career from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s.

Director: From $7.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 25 titles created 17 Mar 2011 a list of 47 titles created 20 Feb 2012 a list of 28 titles created 16 May 2012 a list of 38 titles created 09 Sep 2013 a list of 41 titles created 15 Jun 2014 Search for " The Aviator " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 5 Oscars. Another 74 wins & 119 nominations. See more awards » Videos In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father's killer. Director: Martin Scorsese A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.

Director: Edward Zwick A writer and wall street trader, Nick, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Director: Baz Luhrmann Twenty-something Richard travels to Thailand and finds himself in possession of a strange map. Rumours state that it leads to a solitary beach paradise, a tropical bliss - excited and intrigued, he sets out to find it. Director: Danny Boyle A CIA agent on the ground in Jordan hunts down a powerful terrorist leader while being caught between the unclear intentions of his American supervisors and Jordan Intelligence. Director: Ridley Scott The cruel King Louis XIV of France has a secret twin brother who he keeps imprisoned. Can the twin be substituted for the real king? Director: Randall Wallace A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Director: Sam Mendes Shakespeare's famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona still retaining its original dialogue. Director: Baz Luhrmann J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly 50 years, looks back on his professional and personal life.

Director: Clint Eastwood 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles , from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s. Director: Taylor Hackford The true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars' worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. Director: Steven Spielberg Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city's notorious red light district. Directors: Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman Stars: Kochi, Avijit Halder, Shanti Das Edit Storyline Biopic of billionaire Howard Hughes , starting with his early filmmaking years as owner of RKO studios but mostly focusing on his role in designing and promoting new aircraft.

Hughes was a risk-taker spending several fortunes on designing experimental aircraft and eventually founding TWA as a rival to Pan AM airlines owned by his great rival Juan Trippe. When Trippe's politico Senator Ralph Owen Brewster accuses Hughes of being a war profiteer, it's Hughes who gains the upper hand. Hughes also had many women in his life including a long relationship with actress Katharine Hepburn . From an early age however, Hughes was also germophobic and would have severe bouts of mental illness. Written by garykmcd Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner the passion he couldn't resist. See more » Genres: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, nudity, language and a crash sequence | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 25 December 2004 (USA) See more » Also Known As: $858,021 (USA) (17 December 2004) Gross: Company Credits Production Co: Did You Know? Trivia In his speech at the Golden Globes, Leonardo DiCaprio revealed that Michael Mann had a hand in writing the film's screenplay. See more » Goofs During lunch with the Hepburns, as Dr.

Hepburn asks Hughes if he reads, Hughes handles a fork and a napkin. When Uncle Willy reacts to Hughes's use of the word "snuff", Hughes is leaned over to his right as he looks at Uncle Willy, then, two shots later, Hughes is upright again, and holds the napkin only. See more » Quotes See more » Crazy Credits The Miramax Films logo is also shown in 2-color Technicolor at the beginning of the movie, but before the Warner Bros. Pictures logo. See more » Connections (Los Angeles) – See all my reviews Scorsese has such an encyclopedic knowledge and understanding of cinema that every shot, however inventive and daring, is effortlessly composed. The direction, editing and cinematography are all the first-rate work by individuals who are clearly masters of their profession and the production design, costumes and makeup are the best you'll see all year. Their efforts combine to create a world of rich and lavish color, of excitement and glamour. Who wouldn't want to visit THIS Cotton Club in 1935? It's hard to imagine who could trump the technical team for Oscars this year. With such a perfectly realized world in which to perform, the actors universally do an outstanding job.

Despite the criticism of the hardcore DiCaprio-haters, the unprejudiced will observe an excellent performance that takes genuine risks and convincingly conveys the passing of more than twenty years. Importantly, DiCaprio more than holds his own when paired with Cate Blanchett and especially Alan Alda, who both give equally note worthy performances. Blanchett's interpretation of Katherine Hepburn seems spot on, and anyone familiar with the late actresses mannerisms will appreciate the hard work that clearly went into the recreation. Alda, one of the most consistently underrated actors around, delivers another masterclass in restrained character building as he oozes ambition and political dishonesty from every pore. And yet, despite the obvious talent of all those involved and Scorsese's ability to effortlessly fill three hours, something about The Aviator fails to completely satisfy. Without wanting to sound like a film student, movies should, ultimately, be ABOUT something; love, honor, courage, redemption, the BIG ideas and themes that are the fuel of the plot. What was the drive of The Aviator? A rich guy recklessly spends lots of money to indulge his personal obsessions and gets away with it.

We're never told how his experiences change him, and without change there's no journey. Considering the screenplay was written by John Logan, who usually displays a keen interest in showing the emotional evolution of his characters, the oversight is inexplicable. Ultimately then, much like Gangs of New York, The Aviator is simply the sum of it's parts, and however brilliantly those parts are realized, there doesn't seem to be a bigger theme to underpin and drive them. The Aviator is a perfectly realized recreation of the era and one well worth experiencing. But the lack of a real emotional journey suggests 'all gloss and no substance', and ultimately prevents the movie from being truly great. 637 of 888 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes The Aviator - Awards - IMDb Movie of the Year THE AVIATOR soars into the stratosphere of classic American filmmaking. Martin Scorsese not only ... More THE AVIATOR soars into the stratosphere of classic American filmmaking. Martin Scorsese not only maintains the incredible standards of his career with this modern epic, but also expands its horizons.

As bold and brash as Howard Hughes himself, the film is dazzling beyond words, while the visual splendor of the film carries us back to an era of Hollywood gone by. Leonardo DiCaprio embodies Howard Hughes in one of the year's most demanding roles, with two character arcs at play as Hughes rises and falls simultaneously. African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) 2004 Won Poor Leo: will Leonardo DiCaprio ever win an Oscar? - Telegraph Oscars Poor Leo: will Leonardo DiCaprio ever win an Oscar? Leonardo DiCaprio, star of The Wolf of Wall Street, has now lost at the Oscars four times but, says Robbie Collin, his time will come Leonardo DiCaprio at the 2014 Oscars Photo: AFP Follow In the words of everyone on the internet right now: poor Leo. Last night’s Academy Awards marked the 20th anniversary of Leonardo DiCaprio’s first Oscar nomination, and it was also the fourth ceremony from which he went home empty-handed.

Oscars 2014: the full list of winners DiCaprio’s continuing inability to land an Oscar, despite being one of the most feted and bankable actors in the business, is one of the inexplicable quirks of the awards-season ecosystem; a kind of strange and mystical natural phenomenon, like bioluminescent plankton, or the moving rocks of Death Valley. When you examine his near misses one by one, they look like exactly that – close shaves, in which another performance just happened to garner more support – although DiCaprio himself must surely now be wondering if he should be taking all this personally. In 1994, he was nominated for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape in the Best Supporting Actor category but lost to Tommy Lee Jones, for his work in The Fugitive; a welcome dash of lightness in a heavy category. In 2005 he made the jump to Best Actor for playing Howard Hughes in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, but lost to Jamie Foxx in Ray; another biographical role but one with perhaps more feel-good zip.

Related Articles Steven Price, a British Oscars hero 03 Mar 2014 Two years later, in 2007, he was back on the Best Actor list for Blood Diamond, but voters preferred Forest Whitaker, playing Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. This year he was nominated for another Scorsese picture, The Wolf of Wall Street, which many critics have described as the best role of his career. And yet he lost yet again – this time to Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club . There’s an argument, that’s flattering but also quite compelling given the reported outrage at Wolf of Wall Street Academy screenings, that DiCaprio might have just been too convincing as the gangster-ish stockbroker Jordan Belfort to have a realistic chance of winning an Oscar for it. Could the character’s breezy lack of contrition have turned off voters who would have liked to see this corrupted American dreamer get his come-uppance? Maybe so. His pep-talks to his minions on the shop floor of Stratton Oakmont, Belfort’s brokerage firm, certainly felt like Academy Award-winning stuff as you watched them.

But Scorsese’s film denies us an easy moral escape route when things finally go sour, and as you leave the cinema, after having seen Belfort reinvent himself as a public speaker without too much fuss, his mantras – “pick up the phone and start dialling”, “I want you to deal with your problems by becoming rich” – are still jangling uncomfortably in your ears. OSCARS 2014: WINNERS, LOSERS, BEST PICS I first saw The Wolf of Wall Street at a preview screening for Bafta-voters, and watched a thin but constant trickle of audience members shuffling out, presumably in disgust, as the orgies and drug abuse and megalomaniacal ranting kept mounting up. It was at that point that I realised DiCaprio was giving one of my favourite performances of the year, and also that he could never win. But all hope for a DiCaprio Oscar-win might not be lost quite yet.

Paul Newman – like DiCaprio, a likeable, versatile, handsome, classically charismatic leading man – was nominated seven times between 1959 and 1983 without ever making it to the podium; he received an honorary trophy in 1986 before going on to win Best Actor outright the following year, for his work in The Colour of Money. And Al Pacino, who was first nominated in 1973 for The Godfather, had to wait for two decades, and seven further nominations, to pass until The Scent of a Woman clinched it for him in 1993. Since the Gilbert Grape days, and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, and most crucially Titanic, we’ve watched DiCaprio grow older on screen and develop his craft to the point at which we think we know him too well – where even roles like Belfort and the grotesque plantation owner Calvin Candie in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, aren’t enough to truly surprise us, or spur his contemporaries into thinking yes, this is it, this is the one he’ll get it for.

Perhaps, like McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club (or, in Raging Bull, Scorsese’s former leading man of choice, Robert De Niro), he will have to try something physically transformative – or else bide his time, as Newman did, until he can redraw some of those earlier screen personae with the extra shades and textures that middle age will add to his palette. The Academy has a long memory and a weakness for a satisfying plot arc. Poor Leo will have his moment soon enough.

Question: The Oscar winning film 'Aviator' was about which man?
Answer: Howard Hughes